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. 1987 Feb;6(2):425–431. doi: 10.1002/j.1460-2075.1987.tb04772.x

Molecular analysis of the locus elav in Drosophila melanogaster: a gene whose embryonic expression is neural specific.

A R Campos, D R Rosen, S N Robinow, K White
PMCID: PMC553413  PMID: 3107982

Abstract

The embryonic lethal abnormal visual system (elav) locus in Drosophila melanogaster, a vital gene mapping within the 1B5-1B9 region of the X-chromosome has been cloned and analysed. Previous developmental analyses have shown that in addition to the embryonic requirement there is a post-embryonic requirement for elav function in the cells of the visual system. A DNA segment containing elav+ function was defined through germ line transformation experiments. This region encodes three embryonic poly(A)+ RNAs and two adult transcripts which are preferentially expressed in the head. In situ hybridization experiments clearly demonstrate that the embryonic expression of elav is restricted to the nervous system.

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